Modular shipping apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

A modular shipping apparatus having a shipping container with a bottom interior with a first track and a second track attached thereto; a base having a bottom portion with at least two wheel assemblies that slide along the first track and the second track; a pulley system assembly attached to the bottom interior of the shipping container and the top side of the liftgate to drag the base along the first track and the second track, wherein the pulley system assembly has a wheel end installed along an underside of the shipping container, a pulley end that is attached to the top side of the lift gate, a strap that is wrapped around the wheel end and the pulley end and attached to a portion of the base to drag the base along the tracks of the shipping container when removing the base from the shipping container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of transportation,storage, and shipping. The present invention is a system to transport,consolidate and store all types of cargo. The system is designed to thereduce cost of transportation and labor. It is also designed to ensurethe ease and safety of inputting and removing cargo for worldwidetransportation.

BACKGROUND

In the shipping industry, it is desirable to utilize all of the spaceavailable. The simple stacking of a plurality of boxes having variableshapes often results in wasted space in a storage compartment. Unusedspace in a storage compartment also increases the likelihood thatobjects stored there will shift during transport, suffering damage orfracture.

Shipping is common, as are large-scale shipping vessels. However, muchground transportation is not efficiently conducted. In addition,trailers used for shipping may elevate several feet off the ground.Operating one of these trailers requires the use of ramps or the liftingby human operators in an effort to place objects in one of saidtrailers. Trailer lifts have also been developed to assist in thisoperation.

Once objects are placed inside a trailer it is often challenging tostack and arrange said objects in an alignment in which they can betransported in an efficient manner utilizing all available space, and insuch a way so as to prevent shifting or damage during transport.

Distribution centers, where cargo is redistributed among trailers andforklifts, are commonly used. However, it is difficult to operate aforklift inside a trailer. In addition, a pallet generally used withstandard forklifts does not have the same dimensions as that of atrailer. Thus, using forklifts may require less manual labor, but doesnot improve the ability to maximize the use of storage space.

It is therefore desirable to provide a means to efficiently maximize theamount of space used inside a storage or transportation container.

It is also desirable to provide a means for efficiently and easilyarranging transported objects inside a trailer or other compartment.

It is also desirable to provide a system that may be utilized inconjunction with a rail system, which is more cost effective.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, objects of the present invention are to provide modularshipping systems, apparatuses and methods for improving efficient use ofspace in storage compartments in the transport and shipping industries.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a modular shippingapparatus for a transportation container is provided with a shippingcontainer (5304) with a bottom interior (5305) and having a first track(5300) and a second track (5302) attached to the bottom interior; a base(5306) having a bottom portion with at least two wheel assemblies,wherein one of each of the at least two wheel assemblies slide along thefirst track (5300) and the second track (5302); a liftgate (5308) havinga top portion (5310), bottom portion (5311), left side (5312), rightside (5314), top side (5316) and bottom side, wherein the top side(5316) has a first liftgate track (5324) and a second liftgate track(5326), wherein the first liftgate track (5324) and a second liftgatetrack (5326) are aligned with the first track (5300) and the secondtrack (5302) attached to the bottom interior and the top portion (5310)is pivotally attached (5318) to the bottom interior (5305) of theshipping container, wherein the top side (5316) has a first guide rail(5332) and a second guide rail (5330), the first guide rail extends aportion of the length of the left side and having a first removable wingportion (5320) removably attached to provide a removed position and aworking position and the second guide rail (5330) extends a portion ofthe length of the right side and having a second removable wing portion(5322) removably attached to provide a removed position and a workingposition, wherein the working position of the first removable wingportion (5320) extends to at least the left side (5312) of the liftgate,wherein the working position of the second removable wing portion (5322)extends to at least the right side (5314) of the liftgate.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the attached specification andappended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the moresalient features of the invention in order to better appreciate thecontribution of the instant invention to the art. There are features ofthe instant invention that will be described hereinafter and which willform the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a picture of a shipping container.

FIG. 2 is a picture of a liftgate and a portion of the shippingcontainer.

FIG. 3 is a picture of the liftgate.

FIG. 4 is a picture of the second removable wing portion.

FIG. 5 is a picture of a cargo container mounted on a base in theshipping container and the liftgate.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 depict the pulley system assembly.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 depict the stabilizer.

FIG. 12 depicts the liftgate.

FIG. 13 depicts a stopper and a second guide rail.

FIGS. 14 and 15 depict the working position of the second removable wingportion (5322) which extends to at least the right side (5314) of theliftgate.

FIG. 16 depicts the storage position of the first removable wing portion(5320) and the second removable wing portion (5322).

FIG. 17 depicts the liftgate with a second receiving circular portionalong the right side and the inner parallel plate and the outer parallelplate.

FIG. 18 depicts the liftgate and the shipping container.

FIG. 19 depicts the first removable wing portion (5320).

FIG. 20 depicts the second removable wing portion (5322).

FIG. 21 depicts at least one friction pad (5338).

FIG. 22 depicts a liftgate and a portion of the shipping container.

FIG. 23 depicts a top view of the liftgate.

FIG. 24 depicts a bottom view of a base with wheel assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed invention is designed to use every available square inch ofa vehicle. A vehicle may include a truck, trailer, internationalcontainer, rail car, overseas container, or other transportationvehicle. A transportation box is also referred to as a Cargo Containeror Cargo Cube. The claimed invention may enable a buffer space of 1 inchon each side plus 1 inch on the top and 1 inch on the bottom for thetransportation modular components to fit. This arrangement increasesefficiency and enables a user to use every square inch of the vehicle.

With reference to FIGS. 1-23, a modular shipping apparatus is provided,comprising: a shipping container (5304) with a bottom interior (5305)and having a first track (5300) and a second track (5302) attached tothe bottom interior; a base (5306) having a bottom portion with at leasttwo wheel assemblies (5307), wherein one of each of the at least twowheel assemblies slide along the first track (5300) and the second track(5302); a liftgate (5308) having a top portion (5310), bottom portion(5311), left side (5312), right side (5314), top side (5316) and bottomside, wherein the top side (5316) has a first liftgate track (5324) anda second liftgate track (5326), wherein the first liftgate track (5324)and a second liftgate track (5326) are aligned with the first track(5300) and the second track (5302) attached to the bottom interior andthe top portion (5310) is pivotally attached (5318) to the bottominterior (5305) of the shipping container, wherein the top side (5316)has a first guide rail (5332) and a second guide rail (5330), the firstguide rail extends a portion of the length of the left side and having afirst removable wing portion (5320) removably attached to provide aremoved position and a working position and the second guide rail (5330)extends a portion of the length of the right side and having a secondremovable wing portion (5322) removably attached to provide a removedposition and a working position, wherein the working position of thefirst removable wing portion (5320) extends to at least the left side(5312) of the liftgate, wherein the working position of the secondremovable wing portion (5322) extends to at least the right side (5314)of the liftgate. FIG. 3 depicts the first removable wing portion (5320)and the second removable wing portion (5322) both removably attached toprovide a working position. FIG. 18 depicts the second removable wingportion (5322) in the removed position with respect to being unattachedto the second guide rail. FIG. 18 also depicts the bottom interior(5305) of the shipping container (5304) to receiving the first removablewing portion (5320) and the second removable wing portion (5322) in astorage position, such that the first removable wing portion (5320) issubstantially perpendicular to the first track (5300) of the shippingcontainer (5304) and the second removable wing portion (5322) is in astorage position substantially perpendicular to the second track (5302)of the shipping container (5304). As can be seen, the first removablewing portion (5320) and the second removable wing portion (5322) in thestorage position allows for the liftgate to be folded away. Also, thefirst removable wing portion (5320) and the second removable wingportion (5322) act as a barrier to prevent the base (5306) from slidingout of the shipping container.

The liftgate may have a first receiving circular portion (5340) alongthe left side (5312), wherein the first removable wing portion (5320)has an inner parallel plate (5348) and an outer parallel plate (5346) ata first end and a first circular peg (5344) along an outer side and thefirst circular peg (5344) may be received in the first receivingcircular portion (5340) along the left side (5312). The first removablewing portion (5320) may have two open rectangular shaped holds. Theseallow for easy grasping and removal and attachments of the removablewing portions. The first guide rail (5332) has a rectangular piece alongan outer side of the first guide rail (5332) towards the bottom portion(5311) of the liftgate (5308), to provide the inner parallel plate(5348) to align with the first guide rail (5332). The liftgate may havea second receiving circular portion (5350) along the right side (5314),wherein the second removable wing portion (5322) has an inner parallelplate (5351) and an outer parallel plate (5352) at a first end and asecond circular peg (5354) along an outer side and the second circularpeg (5354) is received in the second receiving circular portion (5350)along the right side (5314). The first guide rail (5332) and the secondguide rail (5330) assists the base (5306) having a bottom portion withat least two wheel assemblies (5307) to align with the first liftgatetrack (5324) and the second liftgate track (5326) on the platform duringloading. The second removable wing portion (5322) may have two openrectangular shaped holds (5356 and 5358). The second guide rail (5330)may have a rectangular piece along an outer side of the second guiderail (5330) towards the bottom portion (5311) of the liftgate (5308), toprovide the inner parallel plate (5351) to align with the second guiderail (5330). There may be a third receiving circular portion (5360) inthe bottom interior (5305) of the shipping container (5304) to receivethe first circular peg (5344) in a storage position that the firstremovable wing portion (5320) is substantially perpendicular to thefirst track (5300) of the shipping container (5304). There may also be afourth receiving circular portion (5362) in the bottom interior (5305)of the shipping container (5304) to receive the second circular peg(5354) in a storage position that the second removable wing portion(5322) is substantially perpendicular to the second track (5302) of theshipping container (5304). There may be a first stopper (5364) attachedto first liftgate track (5324) and a second stopper (5366) attached tothe second liftgate track (5326). The stoppers prevent the base (5306)with the cargo on it, from sliding backwards, preventing injury. Theremay also be at least one friction pad (5338) attached to the first guiderail (5332) and the second guide rail (5330). The friction pads allowfor easy sliding of the base and the cargo attached thereto. Thefriction pads may be made of a nylon and/or Delrin® material. DuPont™Delrin® acetal homopolymer resin is a highly-crystalline engineeringthermoplastic that industry leaders specify for high load mechanicalapplications, such as gears, safety restraints, door systems, conveyorbelts, healthcare delivery devices and components across a diverse rangeof products and industries. There may also be a substantially openrectangular portion (700) along the bottom portion (5311) of theliftgate (5308). The substantially open rectangular portion (700) hasfour rounded corners (e.g. 704 and 706). The substantially openrectangular portion (700) may receive a portion of the pulley systemassembly. The notch (substantially open rectangular portion (700)) isthere to keep the roller in place and not allow it to shift right orleft. If it was to shift, the strap would not be centered causing thestrap to roll off the roller.

The at least two wheel assembles may be V-groove wheel assemblies andeach of the tracks (first track (5300), second track (5302) firstliftgate track (5324) and a second liftgate track (5326)) may beV-shaped tracks. This may be seen in FIG. 2, the tracks are shaped likean upside down V, which is to say they rise to a point in the middle.

There may also be pulley system assembly (5336) attached to the bottominterior of the shipping container and the top side of the liftgate todrag the base along the first track (5300) and the second track (5302)attached to the bottom interior of the shipping container. The pulleysystem assembly may be comprised of a wheel end (5800) installed alongan underside of the shipping container, a pulley end (5500) that isattached to the top side of the lift gate, a strap (5506) that iswrapped around the wheel end (5800) and the pulley end (5500) andattached to a portion of the base to drag the base along the tracks ofthe shipping container. This is only when removing the base from thetruck. When loading the base the wheel is not required. The strap isattached to a bracket and pin that is inserted into a hole in the frontof the base. As shown, the at least one bracket (6000) with a pin (6002)may be attached to a portion of the shipping container, wherein thestrap (6004) is threaded through the bracket with a pin.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a stabilizer that mayput upward in a stored manner to provide a bumper position (as shown inFIG. 9) and put downward in a stability position (as shown in FIGS. 10and 11) to provide stability to the liftgate. The stability positionalso keeps the truck level. There may be a bar (7500) attached to theunderside of the shipping container (7502) and a stabilizer (7504)attached to the bar (7500), the stabilizer (7504) having an attachmentportion (7700) attached to the bar (7500), a leg portion (7702) attachedto the attachment portion (7700), and a level portion (7704) attached tothe leg portion (7702). The stabilizer is movably attached to allow fora bumper position and a stability position. The level portion (7704) maybe curved and extend above the leg portion and wrap around a bottom ofthe leg portion.

The described embodiments of the invention are intended to be exemplaryand numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intendedto be within the scope of the present invention as defined in theappended claims. Although the present invention has been described andillustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same isby way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by wayof limitation. It is appreciated that various features of the inventionwhich are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodimentsmay also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described inthe context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or inany suitable combination. It is appreciated that the particularembodiment described in the specification is intended only to provide anextremely detailed disclosure of the present invention and is notintended to be limiting. Modifications of the above disclosed apparatusand methods which fall within the scope of the invention will be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, while thepresent invention has been disclosed in connection with exemplaryembodiments thereof, it should be understood that other embodiments mayfall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. A modular shipping apparatus, comprising: a shippingcontainer with a bottom interior and having a first track and a secondtrack attached to the bottom interior; a base having a bottom portionwith at least two wheel assemblies, wherein one of each of the at leasttwo wheel assemblies slide along the first track and the second track; apulley system assembly attached to the bottom interior of the shippingcontainer and the top side of the liftgate to drag the base along thefirst track and the second track attached to the bottom interior of theshipping container, wherein the pulley system assembly has a wheel endinstalled along an underside of the shipping container, a pulley endthat is attached to the top side of the lift gate, a strap that iswrapped around the wheel end and the pulley end and attached to aportion of the base to drag the base along the tracks of the shippingcontainer when removing the base from the shipping container.
 2. Amodular shipping apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a liftgatehaving a top portion, bottom portion, left side, right side, top sideand bottom side, wherein the top side has a first liftgate track and asecond liftgate track, wherein the first liftgate track and a secondliftgate track are aligned with the first track and the second trackattached to the bottom interior and the top portion is pivotallyattached to the bottom interior of the shipping container, wherein thetop side has a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first guiderail extends a portion of the length of the left side and having a firstremovable wing portion removably attached to provide a removed positionand a working position and the second guide rail extends a portion ofthe length of the right side and having a second removable wing portionremovably attached to provide a removed position and a working position,wherein the working position of the first removable wing portion extendsto at least the left side of the liftgate, wherein the working positionof the second removable wing portion extends to at least the right sideof the liftgate.
 3. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 2, whereinthe liftgate has a first receiving circular portion along the left side,wherein the first removable wing portion has an inner parallel plate andan outer parallel plate at a first end and a first circular peg along anouter side and the first circular peg is received in the first receivingcircular portion along the left side.
 4. A modular shipping apparatus asin claim 2, wherein the first removable wing portion has two openrectangular shaped holds.
 5. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 2,wherein the first guide rail has a rectangular piece along an outer sideof the first guide rail towards the bottom portion of the liftgate, toprovide the inner parallel plate to align with the first guide rail. 6.A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the liftgate has asecond receiving circular portion along the right side, wherein thesecond removable wing portion has an inner parallel plate and an outerparallel plate at a first end and a second circular peg along an outerside and the second circular peg is received in the second receivingcircular portion along the right side.
 7. A modular shipping apparatusas in claim 6, wherein the second removable wing portion has two openrectangular shaped holds.
 8. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 6,wherein the second guide rail has a rectangular piece along an outerside of the second guide rail towards the bottom portion of theliftgate, to provide the inner parallel plate to align with the secondguide rail.
 9. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 3, furthercomprising a third receiving circular portion in the bottom interior ofthe shipping container to receive the first circular peg in a storageposition that the first removable wing portion is substantiallyperpendicular to the first track of the shipping container.
 10. Amodular shipping apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising a fourthreceiving circular portion in the bottom interior of the shippingcontainer to receive the second circular peg in a storage position thatthe second removable wing portion is substantially perpendicular to thesecond track of the shipping container.
 11. A modular shipping apparatusas in claim 2, further comprising a first stopper attached to firstliftgate track.
 12. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 2, furthercomprising a second stopper attached to the second liftgate track.
 13. Amodular shipping apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the at least two wheelassembles are V-groove wheel assemblies.
 14. A modular shippingapparatus as in claim 2, wherein each of the tracks are V-shaped tracks.15. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising atleast one bracket with a roller attached to a portion of the shippingcontainer, wherein the strap is threaded through the bracket with a pin.16. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a barattached to the underside of the shipping container and a stabilizerattached to the bar, the stabilizer having an attachment portionattached to the bar, a leg portion attached to the attachment portion,and a level portion attached to the leg portion.
 17. A modular shippingapparatus as in claim 16, wherein the stabilizer is movably attached toallow for a bumper position and a stability position.
 18. A modularshipping apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the level portion is curvedand extends above the leg portion and wraps around a bottom of the legportion.
 19. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim 1, furthercomprising at least one friction pad attached to the first guide railand the second guide rail.
 20. A modular shipping apparatus as in claim1, further comprising a substantially open rectangular portion along thebottom portion of the liftgate.
 21. A modular shipping apparatus as inclaim 20, wherein the substantially open rectangular portion has fourrounded corners.